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Originally Posted by glenntaj
--but we've got to clear up some doctor misconceptions for you.
"Peripheral Neuropathy" is just the term for diseases/conditions of the peripheral (not central--brain and spinal cord) part of the nervous system. Small-fiber neuropathy is just one sub-type of peripheral neuropathy--the type that affects the thinly myelinated and non-myelinated ("free" nerve endings) that are very thin and subsume the sensations of pain and temperature, and also control many autonomic functions (such as sweating and blood pressure). This is in contrast to the "larger", myelinated nerves that control all motor functions and and the sensory modalities of position in space, vibration and mechanical touch.
And no doctor should be foolish enough to say that neuropathy cannot affect the hands--you'll find many people on our boards whose hands (and lots of other parts) are affected. Moreover, carpal tunnel is just a neuropathy that effects a particular place (the narrow passages of the wrist).
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It might also be helpful to note that those "fine" nerves are often also controlling nerves, which mean that they control the actions of cells themselves, especially muscle cells. This can lead to a stoppage in metabolism and cause sharp pain like you get with cramps. It may cause you to stumble and fall, affect your digestive system, cause double-vision...the list of possible symptoms is long. And then comes the anxiety from dealing with everything else. It helps a lot to talk about it, and researching it on the internet (using reliable sources) can help you understand it more and make you feel more in control of things again. Good luck, Love 62, and I wish you the best!